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The Midwestern United States is famous for its friendly residents and abundance of rivers and lakes. Though there's some genial discussion regarding what states make up the Midwest, the Midwest Tourism Association considers Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin to be the true Midwest. The Midwest has plenty of interesting spots to explore; it's just a matter of matching them with your personal tastes.

For Nature Lovers

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is laced with hiking trails, dotted with little lakes and waterfalls and nestled against the long, curving shoreline of Lake Superior. The little town of Munising -- home to the 42-mile-long Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore -- makes an ideal home base. Bird watchers should head for Keokuk, Iowa -- the dam and lock on the Mississippi River there is one of the best spots in the United States to spy bald eagles, according to "Midwest Living" magazine. The Northern Angle of Lake of the Woods in Minnesota is the place to be if you're hoping to spot the Northern Lights without leaving the United States. You can also boat, swim, fish and hike in the area.

For Foodies

Madison, Wisconsin, earned the top spot on "Midwest Living" magazine's list of best food towns thanks to fare like local, grass-fed beef burgers at the Great Dane Pub and Brewing Company (greatdanepub.com), authentic ethnic food like the Afghan cuisine at Kabul (kabulmadison.com) and a thriving farmers market (dcfm.org) with more than 170 different vendors. Zingerman's Delicatessen (zingermansdeli.com) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has a bustling mail-order business from folks who crave its homemade cream cheese, generously oversized pastrami sandwiches and fresh-baked rye bread. Innovative, award-winning restaurants like Alinea (alinearestaurant.com), Moto (motorestaurant.com) and Tru (trurestaurant.com) make Chicago a major foodie destination. And it's hard to resist the lure of food on a stick at the Midwest state and county fairs -- the Iowa State Fair (iowastatefair.org), which serves up everything from a deep-fried candy bar to a pork chop on a stick, is a particularly good option.

For Historians

Explore Abraham Lincoln's home, office and early life in Springfield, Illinois, and check out the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (alplm.org), which is dedicated to the history of America's Civil War president. Historians with an architectural bent will appreciate the treasure trove of modern architecture in Columbus, Ohio, which includes buildings designed by I.M. Pei and Richard Meier. And drive through Parke County, Indiana, to roll your way over 30 different covered bridges -- that's the largest concentration of covered bridges in the world.

For Kicks

The Midwest's long stretches of highway are home to some to strange and fascinating roadside attractions. If you're driving on Route 159 east of St. Louis, keep an eye out for the World's Largest Catsup Bottle. Near Blue Earth, Minnesota, on Interstate 90, you can't miss the 55-foot tall statue of the Jolly Green Giant. Cruising along State Route 16 in Ohio, you can spot what looks like a seven-story tall basket with handles -- it's the headquarters of the Longaberger Company, designed to look like one of the company's best-selling offerings.

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About the Author

Holly Roberts is an award-winning health and fitness writer whose work has appeared in health, lifestyle and fitness magazines. Roberts has also worked as an editor for health association publications and medical journals. She has been a professional writer for more than 10 years and holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in literature.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.